Short Eared Owls at Orford

Half day at Orford paid off

Also the Stonechat pair were keeping a eye on me

A visit to Minsmere trying to escape the wind !!

Decide to go to Minsmere today escape the ever present wind of late, it turned out the be quite a good day.

 

On the way to Island Mere hide, spotted this cute little Goldcrest flitting about

At the Island Mere hide a Bittern made a brief appearance

Another visit to a very windy Orford

I have visited Orford again on Friday and it was very windy.

 

Spent the morning with Eddie at Orford, no sign of the SEO's (just too windy). We did spot a pair of STONECHAT's

 

 

Went back in the afternoon, on my own and wind had dropped a little and one SEO turned up late afternoon.

 

Also a HEN HARRIER flew over from Havergate Island and hunted briefly over the field (distantly)

 

 

Greylag Geese flew over

(three hybrid birds amongst them)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Wet Minsmere and a Brighter Orford

I spent the first part of today (Thursday) at Island Mere Minsmere sheltering from the pouring rain, it was brighten up with a Kingfisher and a pair of Bearded Tits!

 

 

 

I was driving home from Minsmere when I scanned the sky, thought I think it my brighten up, so headed to Orford to see if the Short Eared Owl's would come out to play, I was not disappointed the sun came out and three SEO's were hunting!!

 

 

 

 

First visit to Orford in 2015

It was such a lovely day on Friday I decided to give the Short Eared Owl's at Orford a look. I sat and waited patiently nearly all day and they eventually turned up late afternoon, when the Sun getting low, loads of walkers and dog's but it did not stop the SEO's from successfully hunting, one even sat on a post and posed for a few minutes very close to the footpath giving Steve Plume, Gary Richardson, Tony Belsham and myself a chance of some good shots.

The light was not too good for flight shots did manage two half decent ones.

 

 

Just to show how the walkers and dogs did put them off hunting !

 

 

A few more distant shot's

 

 

Whilst waiting for the SEO's quite a few flocks of Golden Plover flew past me.